Here are some of the best games for Android right now (pictures)

Have some time to kill and an Android phone or tablet? Check out a few of our favorite Android games.

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Sproggiwood

A long holiday
weekend has arrived for many of us, and while there will likely be plenty of
festivities to partake in, there'll also be a lot of downtime. Don't worry --
these Android games are here to help. Let's start with Sproggiwood.

Sure, it looks cute.
But under Sproggiwood's saccharine exterior lurks a deceptively difficult
roguelike. You'll wander dungeons, slaying monsters and scooping up loot to
outfit your character. As you fight, you'll earn experience points to unlock
new moves. And once you defeat bosses, you'll ultimately earn entirely new
classes, so you can tackle challenges in fresh new ways. It's a bit on the
pricey side, but the level of polish and fun to be had makes this well worth
it.

Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions

I wasn't really
convinced a twin-stick shooter that's reliant on quick reflexes and precision
could work on a mobile device, and I wouldn't ditch the console iterations in
favor of this one. But Geometry Wars 3 is still quite a bit of fun on a
touchscreen: your left thumb moves the craft around, while your right thumb
controls the direction you'll fire at. The craft can also fire automatically in
a pinch.

Knights of Pen and Paper 2

I loved the original
Knights of Pen and Paper, and while the sequel currently feels a little light
on content, it still retains the charm and whimsy that makes the series so much
fun. The game stars a group of people playing a Dungeons and Dragons campaign,
and while it plays like fairly standard turn-based roleplaying game, the
writing is fun, and the combat is interesting enough to make this a worthwhile
diversion.

Twenty

Twenty is all about dragging tiles around to get to Twenty as many times as
you possibly can. Matching a pair of tiles raises their value incrementally:
combine a pair of ones to get a two, combine a pair of twos to get a three, etcetera.
More tiles rise up from the bottom of the stage over time, and they'll eventually start linking to one
another, make it harder -- if not impossible -- to move them. A simple premise,
executed expertly, resulting in a maddeningly alluring experience. Part of me
regrets stumbling across this game, but that part is also a bit exhausted,
having spent most of last night optimizing a number-wrangling strategy.

You Must Build a Boat

From the minds that
brought us 10000000 (I'm never sure if I've typed enough zeros) comes You Must
Build a Boat. The premise remains the same: your character runs endlessly down
a corridor, occasionally bumping into baddies or treasure chests. Your job is
to match the right tiles to deal with a situation: swords to slash at monsters,
keys to open chests, that sort of thing. And if you fail, don't worry: you can
spend the treasure you've amassed to get stronger, and get a little farther
next time.

Final Fantasy Record Keeper

I'm something of a fan of the Final Fantasy series, though I stopped following intensely sometime around the end of the PlayStation 1 era. Final Fantasy Record Keeper is here to rectify that: this pseudo-RPG is a Final Fantasy highlight reel, consisting entirely of battle segments populated by familiar faces from the series. Come for the familiar turn-based combat, stay for the nostalgia-laden soundtrack, which cheers me up to no end. It is a stamina-based freemium title, but let's be honest: you'll likely want to take the occasional break from nonstop turn-based JRPG combat anyway.

Skiing Yeti Mountain

My own experiments
with skiing have historically turned out to be unmitigated disasters, so it's
fitting that my performance in this skiing-simulator have fallen along much the
same lines. It starts off as a fairly simple slalom run. But quickly throws in
obstacles and rugged terrain over the course of its many levels. Best of all,
the controls are really slick and humor abounds, so even failing is fun.

Snake Rewind

Snake is the
quintessential time waster, a thumb exercise that's seen us guiding our
reptilian friends toward nondescript fruit since time immemorial. Snake Rewind
improves upon that timeless formula by
adding more stuff.

You're still
wrangling fruit, though snazzy lighting effects add a feeling of depth to the
chase. And the fruit comes in varieties now, serving up point multipliers or
power-ups to make the score chase all the more exciting. And the game offers six
different control schemes to choose from, so it shouldn't be too hard to find
one that works for you.

Sorcery 3

Sorcery 2 took me by surprise. The sequel to a game I'd never even heard of, it combined a gorgeously illustrated world with a fun narrative and intricate combat. Sorcery 3 says, "more of that," to which I reply, "Yup." The game follows in much the same vein as its predecessors, playing out as a sort of digital choose-your-own-adventure story with lovely illustrations. The combat system challenges you to consider every move cautiously, the narrative is still imaginative and full of meaningful options for you to weigh, and it remains a great deal of fun. If you've tried the earlier entries in the series you'd do well to pick this one up. If you haven't, the game does a fair job of easing you in, so it's worth checking out.

Calculords

I'm comically bad at math, but that hasn't stopped me from really getting into this clever card collecting game. You'll perform (relatively) simple calculations to deploy cards into one of three lanes on a battlefield, tackling your opponent's forces and eventually their base. If you manage to use up all of the randomly assigned numbers in your calculation, you'll get a bonus, which of course leaves me staring at my screens for hours, trying to figure out the most elaborate way to add up a stack of numbers to 100. Those of you aren't so arithmetically challenged will likely do well here.

Hearthstone Heroes of Warcraft

I'm going to level with you. I suck at Hearthstone. And I don't mean in a comical, self-deprecating sort of way. I mean I'm really, really bad at it. As someone who missed out on Magic: The Gathering and its ilk, I've never really figured out the whole "collectible card game" genre. And that means when it comes time to shuffle through loads of colorful, information-dense cards to fight foes online, I'm generally at a loss. Maybe you'll have better luck: it's free to play.

Ananias

I'm a sucker for roguelikes, and Ananias is a simple, fun take on the genre. There are four classes to choose from, each with a slightly different combat style. You'll guide your character through randomly generated levels, working your way down into the dungeon while scavenging for loot and keeping baddies at bay. The game is free, but there is a $2.99 "Fellowship edition" that adds a few extra classes and unlocks the leaderboards so you can compare your progress (or the lack of it) with friends and folks around the world. It's a nice way to support the developer and treat your competitive side, so do consider it if you enjoy the game.

Dungeon Hunter 5

Dungeon Hunter 4 was a fun, little romp, but the nigh-incessant nickel-and-diming left a sour taste in my mouth. The latest game in the series offers a bit more leeway before the in-app purchases rear their head, but forewarned that this is definitely a freemium experience. The game is broken up into missions: each one will cost you a few points of stamina which will be replenished over time -- or for a bit of cash, of course. It's not all doom and gloom though: it's an attractive game and plays like a simplistic mobile version of Diablo, so you can expect to smash up plenty of baddies and sift through plenty of loot looking for the perfect goodies to upgrade your undead-slaying bounty hunter. You're can also replay missions you've completed for a chance at better loot, and can hire AI versions of your friends to tag along with you.

Shattered Planet

In Shattered Planet, everything is out to kill you -- as befitting a roguelike. But you can't let that get you down. The bipedal green lizard-thing that's offering pointers might be a little too ambivalent about the whole you-keep-dying thing, but he seems harmless enough and is likely responsible for the creation of the clones that ensure you'll get another go at exploring the mysterious shattered planet scooping up loot and fighting off the native flora and fauna. And he's wearing a lab coat, so he can't be all that bad.

Crossy Road

Crossy Road is Frogger for the modern age. Your only goal is to cross the never-ending roads and rivers that lay before you, dodging traffic, avoiding trains, and riding logs in a journey that only ends when you're crushed or flattened or otherwise maimed. You'll earn coins as you go, which you can cash in to play as new characters -- there are senior citizens, celebrities, and all manner of critters just trying to cross the road. This one's free, and definitely worth a gander.

Kingdom Rush Origins

Kingdom Rush Origins doesn't stay too far from the tower defense formula. Enemies march onto the map in waves, and you'll need to erect towers to destroy your foes before they reach the exit and damage your base. Kingdom Rush revamps the genre. Towers that can be specialized to tackle specific types of foes, and you can choose between several powerful hero units can turn the tide of any encounter. Dynamic levels keep the challenge fresh: the enemy will open up entirely new paths to circumvent your well-laid plans, but you can also count on friendly flora and fauna to put a dent in their numbers.

Knights of the Old Republic

Knights of the Old Repblic is the quintessential "Star Wars" game, and after a year of iOS-exclusivity it has finally arrived on Android. Affectionately known as KOTOR, you'll find everything you could possibly want in a Star Wars game: namely, lightsabers and the occasional Jawa. The Sith are characteristically up to no good, and you'll need to choose between the Light and the Dark Side as you take on a mysterious murderous foe that's seeking... something. I'll refrain from revealing too much: suffice it to say, it's well worth a look, especially if you've never played it before.

Pixel Defenders Puzzle

I'll be the first to admit that I'm kind of over the match-three puzzle genre, but then a gem like Pixel Defenders Puzzle shows up and I'm smitten all over again. You're given a new colored tile to place every turn. Every tile you place earns you a fraction of an action point, while matching three tiles converts them into a soldier. You'll use the action points you accumulate to power your troops, who will attack the waves of baddies that are looking to harm the VIP that's wandering the game board. But after your soldiers use a few action points they'll turn into static obstacles, cluttering the board. If the VIP gets killed, or you run out of space on the board, it's game over. It's a tricky game, but rather fun -- and at just 99 cents (for a limited time), it's definitely worth checking out.

Secret of Mana

When I was too young to know better, I decided that Sonic the Hedgehog would be a superior first foray into the 16-bit era and begged my mother for a Sega Genesis. I know now that had I the chance to experience Yoshi's Island, Final Fantasy 6 and Secret of Mana during my formative years, I'd be a different (but definitely superior) human being. Don't make the same mistake I did; this is one of the greatest games of all time. If you've played it before, grab this portable copy to share with the uninitiated. I'm not entirely sold on the virtual joystick, but the interface works rather well, and performance is excellent on my Nexus 5. If you've never played Secret of Mana, now is your chance to get a solid port you can take with you everywhere.

Goat Simulator

Five bucks seems like a bit much to pay for what's essentially a practical joke. The controls here feel a bit imprecise, the graphics are shoddy at best, and the premise -- you're a goat -- is a bit daft.

But it ascribes to the classical Tony Hawk: Pro Skater school of trucking about and seeing what happens. So cars will be plowed into, boxes will be leapt over and trampolines will be bounced upon, all in the name of racking up a high score. When the game arrived on PC I was a nonbeliever. And I won't say I'm convinced, now that it's on mobile. But I just used my sticky, prehensile tongue to drag a sedan into traffic and watched carnage ensue (with no regard to physics), so yeah, I'm getting a bit of a kick out of this.

Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition

You're probably asking yourself, "Do I need to buy yet another copy of a role-playing game released in 1998?" I was like you once. But this is Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition we're talking about, one of the greatest games ever made. Better still, this rather solid port of the recently released "enhanced" PC version serves up new content, quality of life improvements (hooray for higher resolutions!), and a touch-friendly interface. You can also copy your saved games between the Android and Windows versions and literally never stop playing; 13-year-old me is swooning so hard right now.

Baldur's Gate II

As previously discussed, Baldur's Gate is one of the greatest games of all time. Baldur's Gate II happens to be better: the adventure continues with revamped mechanics, updated visuals, and a quest that will take you around the world of Faerûn and out to the mystical Outer Planes, as you take on the very gods. Like the last game in the series, you can copy your saved games between the Android and Windows versions, should you desire to take your adventures on the road. Better still, if you own the original, you can load your character into the sequel without too much effort, continuing the adventure.

Out There

Out There is equal parts survival simulator and space exploration game. Your journey will take you to the furthest reaches of an unknown galaxy in pursuit of mysterious messages from alien entities. You'll leap from star to star in a starship, mining planets for resources and making occasional contact with alien species. Between fuel-guzzling spaceships, random events that tear your hull apart and a pilot that's quickly losing his mind, you'll have your hands full. And there are so many journeys to take, with different goals to discover, foes to surmount, and routes to explore -- it's well worth the asking price.

Shadowrun Returns

And when you're ready to take a break from the Baldur's Gate's world of magic, intrigue and elves, feel free to step into Shadowrun Returns, which is...well, much of the same actually. But in the future! Shadowrun's gritty cyberpunk setting has been captivating folks for years, and its return to video game form on the PC was nothing short of stunning -- the mobile version is pretty great too. Sure, you're missing out all of the brilliant user-created content that's coming to the PC, but being able to wander its intricately detailed world and fight heady turn-based battles on a mobile device is pretty awesome. Be forewarned: while the game will likely run on your phone, you're going to have a really squinty time navigating the interface -- best to stick to tablets.

Dragon Quest II

Dragon Quest II is a recent addition to the Play store, but it's actually the second entry in the classic Dragon Quest series, which dates all the way back to 1986. There are a number of entries in the series kicking around on the Google Play store, some costing upward of $15 -- five bucks is a nice compromise, and an excellent introduction to a legendary role-playing series. You'll wander an expansive fantasy world, slaying critters and tapping through amusingly archaic fantasy dialogue on a quest to right wrongs and defeat evil. The interface is a little spartan and the portrait-only orientation will make this a pain to play on tablets, but it should prove to be a challenging, fun romp on your Android phone.

Hitman Go

Hitman is all about surreptitiously taking out your mark. Hitman Go is all about surreptitiously taking out your mark, as a board game. Most of the usual rules of subterfuge apply: you'll scuttle along a level's grid dispatching guards with a quick backstab or distracting them by tossing objects, all while hunting down your target. If you're especially deft you'll nail all three of a level's extra challenges, which might involve collecting a briefcase, taking down your target in as few turns as possible, or fleeing the scene without killing anyone at all.

Retry

I try to avoid games that are arbitrarily hard as I lose interest in recurring reminders of my ineptitude. But I was inevitably swept up by Retry's gorgeous pixel aesthetic, and it's also a Rovio game that doesn't involve any birds -- interest piqued. I'm still not entirely convinced I made the right decision: tap on the screen to fire up your plane's propeller and flutter forward a tad. Touch anything that isn't tarmac, and you'll crash. A simple premise made all the more complex by labyrinthine levels, sudden sheer cliffs and sloping hills that require a fair bit of finesse to navigate. And then there are the constant loops you'll need to perform to get yourself out of a bind. So it's tough, but it feels a bit less pointless than similar efforts (I'm leering at you, Flappy Bird), with plenty of levels to trudge through.

First Strike

First Strike is a bit harrowing: it's a mutually assured destruction simulator, tasking you with building a nuclear arsenal and just maybe surviving the thermonuclear apocalypse. There's a bit of Civilization mixed in, too: you'll research new weapons or espionage techniques, annex neighboring countries to expand your growing atomic empire (sorry, Canada), and generally try to shore up your defenses before someone pushes the proverbial big red button and everything grinds to a halt. There's a lesson here, in that you don't "win" so much as lose less than everyone else does. But it doesn't forget to be fun -- albeit in a morbid sort of way.

Battleheart Legacy

I'm a sucker for finely honed strategy role-playing games, and Battleheart Legacy has proven to be a nice surprise. It has a fairly typical fantasy premise that's sees battling goblins and monsters and generally bad folk with an array of spells and weapons. There are typical fantasy classes to choose from but you aren't locked down to a particular archetype, which generally results in my charging into battle as some kind of dagger wielding ninja mage. Short-lived, but fun.